Srinagar, July 3: The first batch of devotees set off for the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam on Friday, marking the start of the annual pilgrimage from the traditional route.
Officials told GNS that simultaneously, the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off from Baltal-Domail base camp in Ganderbal by Deputy Commissioner Jatin Kishore, IAS. He was accompanied by DIG Maqsood-ul-Zaman, SSP Ganderbal Sudhanshu Dhama, IPS, and other senior civil, police, and security officials.
Officials said all arrangements for security, medical aid, RFID verification, and logistics have been put in place along both the Pahalgam and Baltal axes to ensure a safe and smooth yatra. Devotees expressed enthusiasm as they began the trek to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued an important advisory for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 pilgrims, urging devotees to undertake the pilgrimage only after completing advance registration and to strictly adhere to their allotted travel dates.
The administration said that, in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court, a daily ceiling has been fixed on the number of pilgrims permitted on the Yatra routes to ensure the safety of devotees and the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
Officials said advance registration was made available well before the commencement of the Yatra through designated bank branches across the country as well as online platforms, and a majority of pilgrims have already availed themselves of the facility.
The administration clarified that the Tatkal or on-the-spot registration facility has only a limited number of slots and cannot accommodate thousands of unregistered pilgrims arriving in Jammu and Kashmir. Devotees without prior registration have been requested to wait for their turn and travel only on the date assigned by the authorities.
The advisory also noted that several registered pilgrims have been reaching Jammu and Kashmir before their scheduled travel dates. Authorities emphasized that no pilgrim will be permitted to proceed on the Yatra before the date mentioned on their registration.
Reiterating its commitment to facilitating the pilgrimage for all devotees, the administration assured that every pilgrim will get an opportunity to undertake the Yatra in accordance with the prescribed procedure and the available daily capacity.
Pilgrims have been urged to maintain discipline, cooperate with the administration, and follow all guidelines to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026.
Batches will leave daily from both base camps under multi-tier security cover till August 28.(GNS)
